Palos Forest Preserves
Illinois · Midwest
Moderate
April-June
Free
Dawn to dusk daily
About This Location
The Palos Forest Preserves encompass over 14,000 acres in southwestern Cook County, making them the largest contiguous forest preserve complex in the Chicago region. The rolling terrain — unusual for the flat Chicago area — supports mature oak-hickory forest, prairie remnants, sloughs, and wetlands that host exceptional bird diversity.
The preserves are home to breeding species rare in the Chicago area, including Pileated Woodpecker, Barred Owl, and Red-shouldered Hawk. Spring migration brings warblers, thrushes, and flycatchers to the extensive forest, and the combination of water features and wooded uplands creates habitat diversity that supports over 250 recorded species. Key birding areas include Maple Lake, the Sag Valley, and the trails around Teason's Woods.
Location
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Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus
Mississippi Kite
Ictinia mississippiensis
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Henslow's Sparrow
Centronyx henslowii
Alder Flycatcher
Empidonax alnorum
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipiter striatus
Neotropic Cormorant
Nannopterum brasilianum
Swallow-tailed Kite
Elanoides forficatus
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
Wilson's Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolor
White-rumped Sandpiper
Calidris fuscicollis
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Great Horned Owl
Mourning Dove
Common Nighthawk
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ring-billed Gull
Red-tailed Hawk
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
American Goldfinch
Barn Swallow
Common Grackle
Trumpeter Swan
Wood Duck
Chimney Swift
Double-crested Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Downy Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Birding Tips
- 1
Maple Lake and the slough trails are the most productive areas for spring migrants
- 2
Listen for Barred Owls calling at dawn — they breed in the old-growth sections
- 3
The preserves are large enough for a full day of birding with minimal overlap between areas
- 4
Visit during spring migration (April-May) for the greatest species diversity
- 5
Arrive at dawn for peak bird activity, especially during migration seasons
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Sagawau Environmental Learning Center
- Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center
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